<style>
    div::selection { background-color: green; }
</style>
<div id="target" style="font-size: 16px; height: 20px; line-height: 0px;">
  The House
</div>
<script>
    // Select |The House|.
    getSelection().setBaseAndExtent(target.firstChild, 2, target.firstChild, 12);
</script>
